If ignorant thugs use a derogatory term - are we all forced to be OK with it everywhere?

Question

Why are people saying "well blacks say it" as an excuse for Imus? Does this mean no black woman can ever be free of this term?

Not ALL blacks use those terms - so why are you lumping "them" together as if there were no distinction. Are you so racist that you treat all black as thugs?

Answer 1

Here is my opinion on this and I really think this is a matter of kindness and common sense...:

really, I don't hear many people say this...I don't know what kind of black people they hand around...

I have been wondering for some time where a man like Imus would even have heard this term...

I have many Jewish friends and lived in Israel too...some of them call themselves slur words...my husband worked for a PI and he went to "Little Italy" a lot and they said words about themselves....

I have lots of friends of Eastern Europe and they say derogatory things about themselves...

I (nor my husband, nor anyone with sense) would ever say the words that these people called each other...

I don't think people understand...I can say bad things about my family, country, people, etc but NO ONE ELSE CAN....

It is the same with everyone...

If you went to someone's home and saw that everyone there was crazy and they all called each other crazy, idiot, loco, checkup neckup candidates would you? That is what I think people need to think about...

Also, there are some things that you just don't say...

Black women deal with this all the time...people think we are ugly because we don't look like White, Asian, Latino women...I hate that people say to me, well you look more like a dark Asian so you are okay...it affects our jobs and relationships...Imus is just one more of this...

Answer 2

I've only heard Imus a few times when there was nothing else on. He seems a little eccentric, not very enertaining, sort of like an uncle you don't see very often. Still, I don't think see how a few odd comments equate to a cross burning. As unenertaining as I've found him, it would be a really boring world if everything you hear is sterilized of anything politically incorrect. He's only talking, you don't have to agree with him, and nailing him to a cross for something this trivial seems a little too Stalinistic. Speaking of crosses, did Al Sharpton read the part in the bible that says "Judge not, lest ye be judged"? What kind of a "reverend" is he, anyway? He won't even accept an apology.

Answer 3

IMus should be punish, but I know some who is angry at Snoop Dogg for popularizing the term among the youth.
I think what makes man superior to Animals is that we value the meaning of Word. That is why I am angry at the use of the term by all. People has gotten so inconsiderate these days. Vulgarity is popular. I see people wear T-shirts with naked girls on it. I seen giant billboard of two men naked as far as I can see about to kiss. I hear explicit language on the radio. SHock is ok these days. My worry is what it's doing to our children. Adults seem not to be able to handle it either.

Edit. No offense, but Racist is overused here in Y!A. No one here said All African AMerican say this word.

another edit: THe word Racist is an equally loaded word as the one you mentioned. I believe it should be used with great restraint. It shouldn't just be used because you think a person might be one nor should it be thrown around because you don't like what he said.

Answer 4

No it does not make it okay for Imus to say it and neither is it okay for black people to say it. I am completely against African Americans referring to themselves by the n-word or by phrases such as that Imus used. Them putting an exclusivety on such terms does nothing but divide interracial relations (I have felt awkward hanging with African American friends only to hear them use the n-word, leaving me feeling as if I was out of their conversation and attention since I can take no part in such talk). Also, the fact that the n-word is something that white people used to call black people in a deragotory manner makes its modern-day exclusivity offending to white people, if you ask me.

I have a number of African-American friends and I see them no different from myself. When they call each other "exclusive" words, however, I feel as if to say, "We were just equal. I have completely left behind any racial thoughts when interacting... And you have just made me aware again that we are different in skin color, and have also put a real-life divide into this by using certain words that I cannot and will not ever use."

It is not okay for anyone, of any color, to use these terms.

Answer 5

As long as non white people can be racist and nothing is said, then Imus can say what he wants. Get rid of the dumbass double standard. And soulflow you are wrong Most white people could not care less what other white people are called if we do not know them. Call them what you want. I might agree. There are good and bad people in every race. If people want Imus to shut up about it, then get the good Reverand Al to defend all people. If blacks want all people treated equally then they should shut the hell up with the stupid rap lyrics. It seems black people do not want equaility, they want superiority. I am not a racist. I don't hate black people. But everytime it is a big deal when white people make a stupid comment and everytime it is a big deal when black people do something exceptional it irriates the hell out of me. Super bowl? When Charles Barkley spit on the white kid it was just a stupid act. If it had been a white player spitting on a black kid it would have been a racist act and the guy would have been suspended. White people think what Imus said was stupid and say so. He makes worse comments than that about white people and no one wants him fired. Al and Jessie are racists in the other direction but no one ever says so. Black people are not the only ones who hear racist remarks they are just the only ones that are made a big deal of. Al should be worried about everyone's soul not just black peoples. He is a racist and a hypocrite. He can say what he wants and no one cares. You know why? Most black people agree with him and most white people don't care what he says. He is irrelevant. They know who and what he is. Why should people give a rat's *** what Don Imus says? I don't. He is irrelevant also. We all have the choice of not listening. If they say it to your face, kick their *** if it offends you. And if anyone thinks only white people are racist, get a clue.

Answer 6

Have you seen the thing on the Jon Stewart show about New York City and the effort to ban the word "******."

They make the point at the end that if you do that, you could end up banning "******", "****", "*******", "kike", even "honky" and "cracker". You cannot possibly ban all offensive language, because when you do, people will invent new words.

Words only have power when you let them have power. They are just words. Remember the old saying, "Stick and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me." We have to get back to that attitude that you cannot be hurt by words.

Let others say what they want. You control your words and your reaction to others' words.

Edited: How cool is that? Yahoo edited my post so as not to offend anyone except the kikes, honkys and crackers.

Answer 7

I think that people who have a problem with the "double standard" really would love the opportunity to use derogatory terms to express how they really feel, but feel unfairly censored. Its like saying, you call your sister a whore, why can't I? You'd have to wonder why the person would ask that question, rather than saying "I think you should stop calling your sister a whore". The people who whine about a double standard are showing what they really are and what they really believe.

Answer 8

H*** NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Ho" as used in the ghetto is a variant of "whore". To any females reading this, would you like to be called a "whore"? To any males reading this, would you like your mother, sister, or wife to be called a "whore"? My point here is that people should give some thought to the words they use.

As for the defense, "Well, blacks say it.", I would like to point something out: Often members of a group will call each other by a given epithet, but they don't like people who aren't part of their group to call them by that term. An example: Cajuns. A slang term that they use for each other is "coon-***". However, nobody who is not a Cajun had better call a Cajun a "coon-***". At least, not unless they're prepared to defend themselves.

Answer 9

Its the double standard people are upset about. I could care less who says it. It was stupid, insensitive, childish and offensive on Imus's part but just change the station, he shouldn't be fired for it.

Answer 10

Define "Irony": Don Imus talking about somebody else's hair.